Our commitment to open broadband platforms — For several years now, many Googlers have been working to identify the obstacles that prevent the Internet from being available to everyone on the planet. It strikes us as unfair that some people should enjoy such abundant access to this rich resource …

Google dangles $4.6 billion in front of the FCC — Google said Friday that it would bid a minimum of $4.6 billion for the federal government's upcoming wireless spectrum auction-if the Federal Communications Commission creates an open wireless platform. — The wireless spectrum auction …

The Google backlash begins — The Internet search giant is having a rough week — and not just because it missed Wall Street earnings forecast. Business 2.0's Chris Taylor suggests four steps the company should take now to stem the fallout. — (Business 2.0 Magazine) …

Learning from Dave Winer — Even if you never read a single thing Dave Winer wrote in his 439 years of blogging, it's worth taking time to study his ideas about comments on blogs (he doesn't allow them). … The important thing to notice here is that Dave does not see blog comments as productive to the free exchange of ideas.

Google Lawyer Settles With SEC — David Drummond will pay the Securities and Exchange Commission almost $700,000 to settle their claims against him stemming from his work with a technology training firm. … We used to call this "no blood, no foul" when we played basketball on the playground.

Ask.com to let users scrub search records — San Francisco (IDGNS) - Search portal Ask.com plans to make it easier for Web searchers to cover their tracks. The company is introducing a new feature to its Web portal later this year called AskEraser, which will let users perform anonymous searches.

Google kills click to call feature in Google Maps — If you were enjoying the freeness of Google Maps "click to call" feature, we're sorry to tell you this. Click to call has been discontinued, according to a post on the Google Maps Troubleshooting Google Group (say that three times fast)

CBS Aims to Spread Web Content — Broadcast Network Targets 400 Sites by Fall — CBS television content will be available through 400 sites on the Internet by the fall, according to executives from the broadcast network's interactive division. — "CBS is al about open, nonexclusive partnerships …

Could Facebook Become The Next Microsoft? — Amongst all the noise today over Facebook's acquisition of Parakey, little has been said on what the acquisition means for Facebook in the broader sense. Robert Scoble says that Facebook is the new data black hole, noting that many of his favorite apps are now appearing on Facebook.

Patent law changes power ahead in Congress — The U.S. patent system transformation long sought by high-tech industry players like Microsoft, Amazon.com and Cisco Systems may finally be gaining momentum in Congress. — On Thursday evening, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved by a 13-5 vote …

PSD2 Compliance in Zoho Books — The Revised Payment Services Directive, also known as the PSD2, is a set of regulatory guidelines laid down by the European Union (EU) for finance, banking, and payment service companies.

Google Fi - a phone plan, by Google — We felt that most phone plans just weren't made with you in mind. So that's why we built Google Fi with features that real people actually want. Click to learn more.